Burglar George Graham escaped police by jumping from a first floor window at his house after officers allowed him to take his children home before going to the police station.

And when officers spotted him behind the wheel of a car two weeks later he led them on a high-speed chase which ended when he crashed into a tree.

Graham, aged 42, of Sycamore Road, Nuneaton, was jailed for a total of 21 months by a judge at Warwick Crown Court yesterday after he had pleaded guilty to charges of burglary, escape, dangerous driving and having no insurance or licence.

Anthony Warner, prosecuting, said that in September last year the tenant of a house in Oakroyd Crescent, Nuneaton, was staying with her daughter after being burgled.

Graham then broke into the unoccupied house during the night and left without taking anything, but moved some items, and his fingerprints were found on a set of bathroom scales.

When he was arrested Graham denied breaking in or ever having gone to the house.

He failed to turn up for his trial at Nuneaton Magistrates? Court in January, but was found guilty in his absence.

Graham was arrested ten days later when officers saw him in the town centre, but he had three children with him, so they agreed to go to his home so he could arrange for the children to be cared for before going to the police station.

But while they were at the house Graham jumped from a first floor window to escape. He was not seen again until early February in a Vauxhall Cavalier in Green Lane, Nuneaton.

He drove along Cleveley Drive at 45 mph, and then shot across another junction into Hillside Drive, which is a cul-de-sac.

There he tried to get out of the car while it was still moving, but failed to do so before smashing into a tree.

He was caught nearby after trying to run off, the court heard.

Alastair Young, defending, said that although Graham had a number of previous convictions, he had no recent ones for burglary and had not been to prison for 14 years.

Graham had been the sole carer for his two children since their mother?s departure two years ago.

Jailing Graham, Judge Richard Cole told him: ?You have had chances in the past. People who break into other people?s property do commit offences for which, in most circumstances, prison is the only possible sentence.?